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© St. Petersburg Times, published April 21, 2002
Even though St. Petersburg College eliminated the "Junior" from its title and changed its nickname from Trojans to Titans this school year, its new name is familiar to people in the Florida Junior College Athletic Association.
The Titans volleyball team qualified for the state tournament in November, and the men's basketball squad captured a state championship in March.
The school's softball program will add its name to the list of state tourney qualifiers.
The Titans finished third in the Suncoast Conference, which is good enough for an at-large bid. The state event begins May 2 in Kissimmee.
The baseball club could make it as well, depending on Monday and Tuesday games against South Florida Community College. SPC is in a three-way battle for the top two playoff spots with Manatee Community College and Pasco-Hernando Community College.
The St. Petersburg softball team finished the season 29-36, 8-8 in the league. The Titans have made the state tournament seven of the past eight years, more than any other school beside Lake City Community College.
"It was kind of a down year for us," SPC coach Lance Lamport said. "We lost 21 one-run games. But we can still make some noise."
The Titans likely will open their state schedule against Okaloosa-Walton Community College.
St. Petersburg first baseman Emily Leggett, second baseman Brook Massey, catcher Ashley Villalpando and pitcher Laura Tobias were named to the first team of the All-Suncoast Conference squad.
ECKERD BASEBALL: With nine games remaining in the season as of Friday, the Tritons face the reality they will not make the South Regional playoffs.
Eckerd (24-22) is 4-8 in the Sunshine State Conference. Even with nine straight wins, it won't catch Tampa, 10-2 in the league. The Tritons do not play Tampa again.
Florida Southern (33-8, 9-3) is the only other conference team with a chance to capture the championship.
It is easy to trace why Eckerd is sixth in the eight-team SSC. The Tritons are seventh in batting (.281 average) and sixth in pitching (5.17 ERA).
That does not mean there haven't been some good individual performances, though. Junior outfielder Josh Beauregard is hitting .339, which leads Eckerd, and is second in the league in runs scored (53). Beauregard is tied for the conference's top spot in triples (4) and is second in steals (26). Tritons senior Stephen Williams is batting .331 and is third in the SSC in RBIs (43). Junior outfielder Matt Regan is second on the team with a .333 average and 31 runs batted in. Right-handed pitcher Derek Dion (5-6, 4.08 ERA) has been a bright spot. Freshman Jason Wishin has been a solid reliever, recording a 2.45 ERA. At least Eckerd has seen some improvement. Last season, the program was 23-30, 5-16 in the conference.
SEARCH CONTINUES: St. Petersburg College athletic director Ed Long said he is about two weeks away from announcing a new volleyball coach.
Long said he has gone through the search and screen process and will begin interviewing on Monday.
Former Titans coach Maggie Knoop resigned in March after starting the program five years ago. Knoop struggled her first season, but eventually led SPC to three straight state tournament appearances.
ECKERD GOLF: The Tritons carded a seventh-place 663 in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament on Tuesday. Rollins captured the title with a 571 at Saint Leo's Lake Jovita County Club. Eckerd's top finisher was T.J. White, who shot 77-79-156 and tied for 25th. Rollins' Rob Oppenheim fired a 67-73-140 and defeated teammate Alex Smith in a playoff to earn medalist honors.